Republicans Push ‘Innovation’ as Climate Change Solution

by Timothy Cama (The Hill) GOP lawmakers are increasingly turning to a new refrain for their position on climate change, calling for “innovation” as the policy solution.

Many Republicans have seemingly settled on innovation as their primary position to counter progressive Democrats who have grown louder in their calls for a Green New Deal, with its emphasis on renewable electricity, and as the United Nations and federal government issue reports saying time is running out to dramatically cut emissions.

“Innovation has a critical role,” Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) told The Hill. “If you look at the reductions in emissions as a result of shifting to natural gas and away coal and other fuels, it’s had a dramatic impact on emissions.”

Endorsing innovation has very few obvious political downsides for the GOP.

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But critics say Republicans are being disingenuous and using innovation to mask their opposition to more aggressive climate change policies.

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In addition to taking first steps toward recognizing the scientific evidence that climate change is caused by human activity, the innovation strategy gives Republicans a policy answer that aligns with core conservative preferences for commerce and the free market. It contrasts with Democratic proposals like regulations and carbon pricing that the GOP considers heavy-handed and expensive.

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She (Ellen Williams, a physicist at the University of Maryland who directed ARPA-E under former President Obama) cited advanced light bulbs as an example of technologies that had significant research and development funding paired with policy — in this case, laws to phase out less-efficient bulbs.

“It was only because we enacted laws with lighting efficiency regulations that we developed the market pull,” William said. “The innovation was done, it was stupendous. But it doesn’t get out and get used unless government makes there be a pull.” READ MORE